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New Grant Funding for Water Quality Improvements Along the Mariner East 2 Pipeline Corridor

The Wolf Administration announces the creation of a new grant program funded by the civil penalty collected from Sunoco Pipeline, LLP related to construction of the Mariner East 2 (MEII) pipeline. The grants will be awarded for projects that reduce or minimize pollution and protect clean water in the 85 municipalities along the length of the pipeline corridor. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) collected the $12.6 million penalty in February 2018 for permit violations related to the construction of the project. The penalty, one of the largest collected in a single settlement, was deposited into the Clean Water Fund and the Dams and Encroachments Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the Clean Streams Law and the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act. These grants are directed to the municipalities to eliminate pollution and protect the public from unsafe dams, water obstructions and encroachments. 

Proposed projects must be physically located within one of the municipalities, although applicants may be from outside of the municipal boundaries.  Projects that provide direct and significant benefits to water quality and local communities will be prioritized.

The 85 municipalities are in 17 counties along the southern half of the state, stretching from Washington County in the west, to Delaware County to the east.

Priorityatershed With Municipalities Map

Eligible applicants can apply via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Electronic Single Application website.  Applications will be accepted beginning May 7, 2018 until June 20, 2018.  Some examples of eligible projects include (but are not limited to):

  • Projects to improve water quality while enhancing community recreational opportunities, such as restoration and enhancement of natural water resource features at community parks and public properties, including lake restoration and wetland creation.
  • Projects to educate future generations about water resource protection, such as demonstration projects that showcase pervious pavement, stormwater runoff management features and systems, bio-retention systems, constructed wetland complexes, stormwater runoff collection and reuse projects, stormwater mitigation projects that reduce rate and volume and improve water quality on a school or other public property.
  • Projects to improve and/or protect public drinking water sources and infrastructure, such as repairs to drinking water system source facilities that improve resiliency of the water supply, including water supply dam rehabilitation work and upgrades, and repairs to water treatment infrastructure and water intakes.
  • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) projects to address rate, volume and/or sediment load, including flood-control project features and retrofits to existing stormwater runoff control infrastructure that reduce rate and volume of stormwater runoff.
  • Projects that result in nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment load reductions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and impaired waters, including stream buffers, stream restoration projects, wetland restoration or enhancement projects.
  • Projects that result in water quality improvements in DEP Priority Watersheds and Impaired Watersheds within the 85 municipalities.

R. Scott Carney | Chief, Watershed Support Section
Department of Environmental Protection | Office of Water Resources Planning
Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717.783.2944 | Fax: 717.787.9549